Things heating up in Kiel!

A press conference was held today for Universum Box-Promotion’s world title tripleheader on Saturday at the Sparkassen Arena in Kiel, Germany. The three world title fights feature the huge cruiserweight showdown between unbeaten former WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei (30-0, 17 KOs) and WBC cruiserweight champion Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-1-1, 10 KOs), plus WBC interim super featherweight Humberto Gutierrez (26-1-1, 19 KOs) defending against Vitali Tajbert (17-1), and super middleweight contenders Dimitri Sartison (25-1, 16 KOs) and Stjepan Bozic (23-3, 14 KOs) colliding for the WBA 168lb championship that was vacated when Mikkel Kessler was named WBA super champion. Here’s what the fighters had to say…

Photos: Eroll Popova/Universum Box-Promotion

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WBC Champion Giacobbe Fragomeni: “It’ll be a terrific fight! Zsolt Erdei has my respect. He is the best technical boxer in the world and was WBO light heavyweight champion for so long. I fought against Rudolf Kraj from the same stable in the past and now cpmes the challenge from Erdei. I know Zsolt well from our amateur days where we boxed together at the same events, but that plays no role in my preparation. Of course, we’re preparing for a lighter opponent. Above all there remains my respect for him as a boxer and as a person. We’ll see a great fight! “

Challenger Zsolt Erdei: “I wanted another highlight in my career. Originally I wanted a title unification. Unfortunately, the possible opponents all ducked me so now I don’t have to think about it as the chance came to fight for the cruiserweight title. I was unbeaten as light heavyweight world champion, so as a challenger in this cruiserweight world title fight there’s less pressure. Naturally, I had cruiserweight sparring partners so I could test myself at the weight. With Fragomeni and me there are absolutely different fight styles colliding head on – he will apply relentless pressure and I’ll answer with my technique and quickness. I promise this will be a very spectacular fight. In addition, I might be the first Hungarian to win a world title in two different classes.“

WBC interim world champion Humberto Gutierrez: “I’m well prepared for Tajbert. We prepared at nearly 9,000-foot altitude. The temperatures there were the same as here in Kiel. Thus I have hardly any readjustment problems. After my majority decision win against Gulyakevich, now it’s on the fight against Tajbert — and I will win!”

Challenger Vitali Tajbert: “I am, as usual, very well prepared — without a high-altitude training camp. Gutierrez is a typical Central American. The boys from there are tough and fight to the last minute. I must be sharp if I want to be the first German world champion at super featherweight!”

Dimitri Sartison: “I will take advantage of my second chance for the world championship. After the Kessler fight, I’ve had an injury-free preparation. I’m ready to go the distance with Bozic, but if the KO chance is there, I will use it. Quite simply: I’ll bash Bozic out of my way and then I’ll finally have “my” world title!”

Trainer Magomed Schaburow: “The Mexican (Gutierrez) has a very unorthodox fighting style and a very hard head. Vitali must be warned about that. But he will be right there. I’ve looked after Vitali Tajbert and Dimitri Sartison for 11 and 13 years as a trainer and for me it will be a very special evening as both can win their world championship fights in the ring.”